Just from an analytical standpoint, I'm fascinated by the trough that occurred in 1992. Anybody got any idea what would have caused that? Why did we hit a low point in 1992 and then continue back up?

I think you are seeing the result of the "war on drugs" there. I went to high school from 88 to 92 and we must have had at least one drug forum a month at my school. Plus I remember even a huge Pepsi sponsored one that rolled through each year.

The war on drugs may have not stopped trafficking so much but it may have stopped a number of first time folks or people on the fence if you will.

__________________When life gives you paper jams, turn them into paper footballs!

Actually here's an observation, but I should note I'm absolutely NOT drawing any conclusions regarding causation with this, but it's too interesting not to point out:

- The % trends up during a democratic white house. It trends down during a republican white house.

That's just a fact, I'm drawing no conclusions from that so keep your flames to yourself! But check it, during the Carter administration it went up and peaked in 80 when Reagan took over. From there it steadily dropped until '92 when Clinton took over. It peaked again in 99-00, right when Bush took over. I wonder what's happened since.

Actually here's an observation, but I should note I'm absolutely NOT drawing any conclusions regarding causation with this, but it's too interesting not to point out:

- The % trends up during a democratic white house. It trends down during a republican white house.

That's just a fact, I'm drawing no conclusions from that so keep your flames to yourself! But check it, during the Carter administration it went up and peaked in 80 when Reagan took over. From there it steadily dropped until '92 when Clinton took over. It peaked again in 99-00, right when Bush took over. I wonder what's happened since.

That's definintely a reasonable observation.

I don't think it's a stretch to say we'll see another upward trend under Obama considering the way his admin has approached things so far.

I once read that banks are the biggest financial beneficiaries of the illegal drug trade. I'm not sure if it's true, but I don't think we can necessarily conclude that making it legal will provide more revenue. Don't ask me why or how, I just don't think it's that straight-forward.

In any case, marijuana should not be a Schedule I drug (cocaine is S2). Just goes to show you that our governments priorities here are not related to safety IMO.

__________________ To succeed in the world it is not enough to be stupid, you must also be well-mannered.

Lol, just wait till I'm king. Alcohol and Pot both illegal. Cocaine, totally legal. Basic rule of thumb will be if it knocks you on your ass and it's recreational it's illegal. Yep, my subjects are going to be the most productive nation in the world. Sure they'll die early, become violent, and addicted but at least my monuments will get built quicker.

Actually here's an observation, but I should note I'm absolutely NOT drawing any conclusions regarding causation with this, but it's too interesting not to point out:

- The % trends up during a democratic white house. It trends down during a republican white house.

That's just a fact, I'm drawing no conclusions from that so keep your flames to yourself! But check it, during the Carter administration it went up and peaked in 80 when Reagan took over. From there it steadily dropped until '92 when Clinton took over. It peaked again in 99-00, right when Bush took over. I wonder what's happened since.